What is your role at the agency?

I’m a literary agent, focusing on building the general fiction side of the list: I’m looking for rom-coms; love stories; book club fiction; historical fiction; and dark female-led suspense/thriller.

How did you get into publishing?

I started working for LoveReading after I graduated and, whilst there, I became more familiar with different publishing houses as well as the roles within them. I went on to apply for work experience at various different publishers and was offered some at Little Tiger Press, where I then went on to secure a full-time position. I stayed there for two years before moving to Darley Anderson.

What’s the best part of your job?

There are so many aspects to the job that I love! As an agent, I think you really feel the highs as you work so closely with your authors (although this does mean feeling the lows, too…).

One aspect that will never get old is that moment you get to pick up the phone and tell an author you have an offer for them. Sometimes it’s a book they didn’t think would ever be published or it has been on submission for months; other times it’s a whirlwind of activity. Either way, getting to be a part of that moment feels incredibly special.

I also love the moment when you realise a submission you’re reading is one that you want to offer on; seeing a book published and out in shops for the first time… the list goes on!

What do you look for in a book?

It’s got to be unputdownable and I want to feel so cocooned and caught up in the author’s world that I never want to leave. If I confuse fictional plots with real-world events then I take that as a good sign!

What’s on your to read list?

Too many books… At the moment I am really looking forward to reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus; Reputation by Lex Croucher; and The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley. I’ve also just bought the second book by Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan Knocks ’em Dead) as I loved the first one so much.

Who is your favourite fiction character?

Ooh, this is such a hard question! I’m going to pick out some favourite qualities, rather than a specific character: I love a broody or ‘unlikely’ hero, and a heroine who surprises me in some way.

What is your go to reading snack?

Do I have to choose one?! I am a big snacker in general, but when reading it’s got to be something that I can eat with one hand and that isn’t messy – nuts, revels, grapes, pringles… the list could continue but I’ll stop there!

What soon to be published book are you most looking forward to reading?

I’ve been saving Sorrow and Bliss for when I next go away, so that I can really take my time and enjoy the read.

For more information on our Open Week check out our latest post https://darleyandersonblog.com/2022/06/20/da-open-week-whats-on/.